Stage floor pocket



Oct. 22, 1929. F. L. DECKER 1,732,553

STAGE FLooR rocxm` Filed May s.' 192s sheets-sheet 1 Oct. 22, 1929. F. L. DCKER 1,732,553

STAGE FLOOR POCKET Filed may 5, 192s 2 sheets-sheet `2 53 J5 ZJ Z4 Z5 l z I A i i L n 50 l m I l 1 i .f1

i l Z Z6 il l 27 E D ZVa/z/c. Zecke# sassares- PAiriEr rifles FRA-NK L. DECKER, on MAYWooD, ILLrNoIs STAGE FLOOR POCKET Application led May 5, 1928.

This invention relates to a stage iioor pocket and more particularly to a stage pocket which is partitioned toseparate a wire-containing compartment from a working compartment, accessible thru a door, which, when open, automatically controls means for illuminating not 'only a plurality of light'sockets, but a plurality of jewel pilots designating the respective sockets to facilitate the insertion of light 'plugs into the sockets in a predetermined order, so that the lights connected with said sockets may be remotely controlled from the stage power switchboard.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved stage floor pocket with means for automatically illuminating the mechanisms in said pocket when the door of said pocket is opened. I

It is also an object of this invention to provide a stage floor pocket with a partition which separates the wires leading into the pocket from a working chamber into which it is necessary for an operator to insert the plugs connected with spotlights and the like into sockets connected with control switches on the stage light control switchboard.

It is ay further object of this invention to provide a stage pocket wherein the sockets connected with predetermined switches on the light switchboard may be readily selected by means of designating devices positioned to correctly designate'the sockets tocorre l spond with designations of the respective control switches on the light control switchboard. Y Y, Y

It is furthermore an object of this invention to provide a stage pocket wherein a plurality of sockets and jewels designating the same are adapted tobe .automatically illuminated thru the operation ofpa switch mech-v anism controlled by the opening of the deor aording accessinto the stage pocket.

It is an important object of this inven-A tion to provide an improved, simplified form of stage floor pocket wherein a plurality of sockets are adapted to be connected by suitable wiring to control switches on a remote light control switchboard, said sockets` and designating jewels associated therewith adapted to be automatically illuminated when Serial No. 275,581.

the door of the stage floor pocket is open, to

taken thru a stage floor pocket embodying the principles of this invention and showing the operation of the door hinge, the -control switch and the light protecting hood in dotted lines.

' Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional view of the stage floor pocket taken on line vII--II of Figure 1, showing a portion of the floor plate and door in elevation. vFigure, 3 is a fragmentary detail section taken on line III-III of Figure 1, illus trating the spring latch for the lamp pro-l tectinghood.

' As shown on the drawings:

The reference numeral 1 indicates thebottom or sub-flooring of a stage floor, which is covered by a top or surface flooring 2. An opening is cut thru the two layers of flooring for the reception of an improved stage floor pocket.

Projecting between the layers Vof flooring l and 2, and secured in place by any suitable means, is an upper peripheral iiange 3, which is integrally formed at substantially right angles to the upper edge of a tub or casing 4:, the lower end ofv which is open and is adapted tobe closed by means ofa spring-controlled trap door 5, pivotally supported on the lower margin of one of the walls of the casing l by means of a spring hinge 6. f x

The upper finished flooring 2 is provided with a recess 7 to receive a metal floor plate 8 seated therein, with the top surface of said floor plateilush with the nished surfacefof said top flooring.' The floor plate is secured CIT . conductors 36 leads from the stage oor pocket in the sidey portions ot the licor plate il in place by means ot retaining screws 9 the like. integrally formed on the bottom surface ot the floor plate 8 is a flangwhich projects downwardly into th end ot the casing 4. rlhe licor plate vided with a door opening 11, in metal door 12 is adapted to seat, to ci stage floor pocket. rEhe door, when in closed position, is adapted to rest on stops 13 integrally formed on the inner face of the floor.' plate flange 19, as illustrated in The door is provided with a pair recesses 14 in the front mare` opening of the door, said op tering with linger pockets the door plate 8. The i 12 is also provided with a plu 16, thru which spotlight or arc lare adapted to project.

Integrally formed on the bottom ot tne door 12 is a pair of hinge arms 18 having apertures therein to permit the same to be pivotally mounted on a hinge rod 19, the end of which are supported in suitable aperti 10. Cotter pins are engaged thru sui openings provided in the hinge rod 19 adjacent the hinge arms 18. Mounted on the hinge rod 19 to the outside of each of the hinge arms 18 is a hinge spacer sleeve 21.A

The rear edge of the door 12 is beveled at 22 to lie adjacent a beveled edge 23 provided in the floor plate 8.

Integrally formed on one ot the hinge arms 18 is a cam finger 24, the cam edge of u is adapted to coact with a slidable con-.iol

lunger or stem 25 forming a part eta door switch 26, which may be a single-throw switch, a mercury type switch or any other suitable standard type of switch which may be conveniently controlled by the operation of the hinge cam 24. rthe switch device 26 is mounted in position on a switch bracket 27, which is mounted in position upon top flange 28 of a receptacle bracket 29 provided with suitable apertures to permit the same to be rigidlyY secured in position on apertured lugs 30 integrally formed on the bottom of the floor plate 8 and on the side portions of the flange 10 formed on said tioor plate. The receptacle bracket 29 extends lorgitudinally thru the casing 4 and has r dly secured, by means ot bolts 31 or Vother sin l 1Q means, to the bottoinflange 32 thereof a plurality of electric sockets or receptacles Each oi' the receptacles 33 is provided with a pair' of contact plates or strips 34, the ends of which project thru the bottom oi" the socket and form terminal lugs or posts 35, to which are engaged a pair of insulated conductors 36, which pass outwardly thru suitn able outlet buttons 37 mounted in apertures in the rear wall ot the casing 4. Each pair ot Ato a predetermined switch on the light control switchboard mounted back stage or in any other suitable position to permit an operator to conveniently control the stage lights. Each of the sockets 33 is adapted to have removably engaged therein an electric plug 38 connected to the ends of a pair of the insulated wires 17. The different pairs of wires 17 are adapted to project thru the stage floor door recesses or notches 16 and connect up with a stage spotlight, arc light, a bank of colored lights or the like, which may be used to produce desired lighting eii'ects on the stage.

Mounted longitudinally through the lower middle portion of the casing 4 is a partition 39, on which an electric light socket 40 is mounted to receive an electric bulb or lamp 41 removably engaged therein. Connected to one terminal of the light socket 40 is an insulated wire 42, the other end of which is connected to one'of the terminals of the control switch 26.' Connected to the second terminal ot' the electric light socket 40 is one end ot' an insulated wire 43, leading to a source of electrical energy. A second insulated conductor 44, from said source of electrical energy, is

connected to the second terminal of the control switch 26. This arrangement aEords a separate circuit for the light bulb 41, with said circuit being controlled by the switcn mechanism 26. It will thus be noted that the light 41 is controlled by the opening and closing of the stage floor pocket door 12. Y

Pivotally supported on the partition 39 by means of a hinge 45 is a lamp case or hood 46 which, when in closed position, is adapted to have the upper flange 47 contact the series of sockets or receptacles 33 to enclose and protoet the electric light bulb 41. The hood 46 is adapted to be resiliently held in closed position by means of a spring latch 48.

The ange 47 ot the hood 46 is provided with a plurality of spaced openings, in each ct wi -ch a colored ewel 49 is mounted, to be illuminated by the electric light 41 when the door 12 of theV stage oor pocket is open. rlhe colored ewels 49 are associated with the respective .sockets or rec`eptacles33 and correspond with jewels or other symbols ot corresponding `color mounted on the stage light control switchboard to designate control switches to.v which the various pairs of conductors 36 are connected. This arrangement affords a remote control at the stage switchboard for the various spotlights, arcs' or other lights which are mounted on the stage in selected positions, and are connected by means or' the cords 17 and the plugs 38'with selected sockets 33 in the stage floor pocket. While colored jewels 49 are used to designate the respective sockets 33 in the stage loor pocket, it will, of course, be understood that any other desired type of designating symbols may be used on thejhood 46 tor readily identifying the sockets 33 in the stage oor pocket, so

that an operator on the stage may connect selected spotlights, arcs or the like in certain of the sockets 33 to permit tlie respective spotlights or the like to bel controlled by the main switches on the switchboard whenever desired. a

The arrangement of the receptacle bracket 29, `the partition 39 and the light protecting hood 46, together with the sockets 33 supported on the bracket 29, affords a partition disposed longitudinally thru the stage floor pocket casing 4, dividing said pocket into a rear chamber 50, in which the various wires are disposed, and into a working compartment 51, below the door 12, into which it is necessary for an operator to insert his hands when inserting the plugs into or removing the same from the various sockets 33. By this arrangement, accidents are obviated.

The improved arrangement whereby an electric light is mount-ed within the stage floor pocket below the sockets 33 and behind the hood 46 permits not only the group of colored jewels 49 to be illuminated, but also permits the interiors of the various sockets 33 to be illuminated when the stage pocket door 12 is opened, permitting the switch means 26 to automatically close the circuit thru thel light 41.

The improved stage lioor'pocket may be mounted in any desired position in the floor of a stage and affords an arrangement whereby the apparatus within the stage iioor pocket is illuminated when the door 12 is moved into an open position. This illumination is due to the fact that the switch mechanism 26 is automaticallycontrolled by one of the door hinge arms. The illuminating of the interior of the stage floor pocket not only permits a stage hand to see the various sockets 33, but, furthermore, permits the various sockets to be identified by the colored jewels, which are also illuminated, so that the Stage manager, or any other person positioned at the stage light control switchboard,-

may instruct the stage hand into which of the sockets 33 particular spotlight or arc light plugs 38 are to be inserted. This predetermined positioning of the spotlight plugs 33 in the sockets 33 permits the switchboard operator to close the corresponding light switches on the switchboard at selected times whenever it is desired to cause selected spotlights, arcs or banks of colored lights to be lighted during a performance or at thetime the stage is being prepared.

Whenever it becomes necessary to remove or replace the light bulb 41, the latch 48 may be manually opened and the hood 46 moved into the dotted line position of Figure 1 to afford access to the light 41. Cleaning out of the stage floor pocket casing 4 may be accomplished by opening the bottom door 5 of the casing.

I am aware that many changes may be made, and numerous details of construction may be varied through a wide range without departing `from the principles of this invention, and I, therefore, do not purpose limiting the'patent granted hereon otherwise than necessitated by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A stage floor pocket including a casing, a plurality of sockets mounted therein,

means for illuminating said Sockets, a switch connected with said illuminating means, a door for said pocket, and means on said door for controlling-the operation of said switch.

2. A stage floor pocket including a casing, a partition dividing the interior of said casing into a working chamber and a wiring chamber, a plurality of sockets supported by Said partition, kdesignating symbols associated wit-h the respective sockets, a floor plate closing the upper end of said casing, a door in said floor plate, illuminating means mounted within said wiring chamber, a switch connected with said illuminating `means, and means on said door for controlling the operation of said switch to close the same when the door is opened to cause the illuminating means to illuminate the sockets and the indicating symbols associated therewith.

3. A stage floor pocket including a casing,

a cover therefor, a door positioned to close an opening in said cover, a hinge for said dicating means for` selectively identifying f said sockets, and illuminating means within said casing controlled by said door hinge to cause the sockets and the indicatingmeai'is to be illuminated when the doo'i` is opened.

4. In combination, a stage floor pocket, a

door therefor, a plurality of sockets mounted therein, indicating means for said sockets, and means controlled by the movement of said .door for illuminating saidsockets and said indicating means. f

5. vA stage floor pocket including a casing, a floor plate for closing the upper end thereof, a door in'said floor plate, a bottom door for closing the lower end of said casing, a bracket mounted in said casing, switch means supported on said bracket, a hinge on saidl door, cam means on said hinge for con-2 trolling the operation of said switch, a plurality of sockets supported on said bracket, a

light supported in said casing beneath said sockets and connected with said switch, a

protective hood movably supported in said casing to'protect said light, a latch for holding said hood in closed position, and a plurality of indicating symbols mounted on said said sockets, a door aording access into said casing, and illuminating means in said casing lcontrolled by t Le operation of said door to cause illumination of said sockets and indicating means when the door is opened.

7. ln combination, a stagefloor pocket, a plurality of sockets mounted therein, designating means associated with said sockets to permit a selective use thereof, and means for illuminating said designating means when said pocket is opened.

8. ln combination, a stage Hoor pocket, sockets therein for receiving electrical plugs, a door for said stage licor pocket, and illuminating means automatically Vcontrolled by the operation of said door to cause illumination ot said sockets when said door is opened.

9. In combination, a stage i'loor pocket, sockets mounted therein, a light circuit partially within said pocket, indicating means associated with said sockets, and switch means within said pocket i l or controlling sai-; light circuit to permit said indicating` means to be illuminated to viacilitate a selective use oi said sockets.

l0. A stage floor pocket comprising a casing, a bracket mounted in said casing, sockets supported on said bracket, a partition in said casing below said sockets, illuminating means supported on said partition, a protective Vhood pivotally mounted on said partition adapted to protect said illuminating means, indicating means supported on said hood to facilitate a selective use of said sockets, a door for said pocket, and switch means controlled by the operation of said door to cause lighting of said illuminating means when the door is opened and illumilnation of said indicating means.

1l. A stage floor Apocket comprising a casing, a partition dividing said casing into a viring chamber and a working chamber, sockets supported by said partition, indicating means on said partition for selectively identifying'said sockets, illuminatingl means Y supported' on said partition, a door roi1 said fil casing, and switch means connected with said illuminating `means controlled by the operation or" said door to cause illumination ot said sockets yand said indicating means when said door is opened.

lln combination, a stage floor pocket,

ofA sockets tor electrical plugs in said casing,

and means for, illuminating saidsockets to,

facilitate the insertion of plugs thereinto;v`

15. In combination, a stage floor, a sunken casing therein, sockets for electrical plugs;

In testimony whereof l have hereunto subscribed my name at Maywood, Ill.,rcounty ol' Cook.

FRANK L. DECKER. y 

